SAN FRANCISCO – Saint Mary's Men's Soccer scored three goals in the second half in a 3-0 victory over San Francisco on Friday night to remain unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Dons.
 
Freshman Toke Amtrup scored his first career goal for what proved to be the game winner, and Jack Landreth made four big saves for his fourth shutout of the season and fifth as a Gael.
 
FIRST-HALF STALEMATE
In a scoreless first half, USF made a late push right before the end of the first 45 minutes, but Landreth made a great right-leg save to not only preserve the scoreless tie, but give the SMC some momentum going into the half.
 
Landreth and the Gaels defense got a little help from the woodwork when the Dons hit the right post in the 53rd minute. That would lead to a Saint Mary's counter opportunity they would eventually cash in.
 
THREE-GOAL NIGHT
Riley Lynch raced the other way on the counter, and his cross was headed away by the Dons defense just a minute after USF hit the post on the other end. Justin Sosa collected the deflection and forced a diving save from a keeper on a right-footed blast to the lower-right side of the net.
 
Sosa would draw a foul after the ensuing goal kick, and the free kick was taken by Wade Muttitt from 25 yards out. Muttitt lofted a perfect feed inside the six-yard box that was put in out of mid-air by the left foot of Toke Amtrup to make it 1-0 Saint Mary's in the 56th minute.
 
In the 60th minute, the Gaels pushed up field and Muttitt worked his way around defenders with some brilliant footwork. He was taken down to the right of the penalty area, but Jack Vestberg was there to scoop up the loose ball. Vestberg passed to his left where Sosa was waiting, and from straight on Sosa put a right-footed shot past the diving keeper for a two-goal lead. It was the Freshman's second goal of the season, and Vestberg's first assist after missing time with an injury earlier this season.
 
The Dons tried to counter just a minute later, but Landreth was up to the task, standing tall in goal and rejecting a shot. That kept USF from getting on the board or gaining any momentum of their own, and Saint Mary's would strike again just five minutes later.
 
Jude Zamora stole a pass from just inside the center circle and raced towards the Dons goal. Zamora left the ball for Vestberg who fired a right-footed shot on goal where the USF keeper made a great sprawling save, but didn't corral the rebound. Lynch jumped right on it and flicked a left-footed shot into the lower left corner for his team-leading eighth goal of the season and a 3-0 SMC lead in the 65th minute.

Saint Mary's got one more shot on goal than San Francisco with a 7-6 advantage.
 
UP NEXT:
Saint Mary's will host No. 9 Portland on Saturday, November 4 at 1:00 and celebrate their seniors in the home finale.

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